Turner hits 2 home runs, leads Dodgers over Padres 6-4

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to win with such historic regularity, it’s almost as if they spin a dial to determine which player will be the star of the day.

Sunday the dial landed on Justin Turner, who hit two homers and drove in four runs to lead the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres 6-4.

”There was a little kind of lull a couple weeks ago when he wasn’t getting hits, which I think is the only dry spell he’s had this entire season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ”His at-bat quality has been consistent, and always is. He’s the glue to our ballclub.”

Turner is hitting .346 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Yasmani Grandal also homered as the Dodgers won for the 28th time in 33 games, improving the best record in the majors to 83-34. They now lead the NL West by 18 games – it’s the largest lead in franchise history.

The Dodgers took the set from San Diego with the win. They are now 16-0-3 in their last 19 series, and haven’t lost one since June 5-7 to Washington.

”There isn’t any sense of urgency or panic in the club,” Turner said. ”From top to bottom, everyone has their own idea of what they need to do and their gameplan they’ve put together for themselves.

Turner had a three-run homer and Grandal had a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Luis Perdomo (6-7).

”Outside that one inning, Luis did a solid job today,” said Padres manager Andy Green, given a three-year contract extension earlier in the day.

”This is a tough lineup to navigate. It happened quick,” he said.

Kenta Maeda (11-4) went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and four hits and striking out eight. Kenley Jansen retired the Padres in order in the ninth to earn his 32nd save.

Spangenberg’s first home run was a solo shot that opened the scoring in the first. Turner’s throwing error from third base set up Wil Myers’ sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Perdomo didn’t allow a baserunner until hitting Chris Taylor with a pitch to open the fourth. Corey Seager followed with a single and Turner homered. Cody Bellinger followed with a double and Grandal hit his 15th home run.

Spangenberg’s 10th homer, a two-run drive, made it 5-4 in the sixth.

San Diego’s best chance at tying the game came when Manuel Margot led off the eighth with a double against reliever Luis Avilan and advanced to third on a groundout. But Avilan, who had been on the paternity list and had not pitched in nine days, struck out Jose Pirela and got Yangervis Solarte to ground out.

The Dodgers have at least two extra-base hits in their last 57 consecutive games, the most in baseball since 1913.

NO STREAK WATCHING

Roberts said the team is not taking any special pride in having not lost any of its last 19 series.

”For us each day we come in prepared to win a game,” he said. ”That’s the thing that we’re most excited about. Obviously as a byproduct, we’re winning a lot of games. We have a lot of good players in there.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (lower back strain) threw a second bullpen session. He is next scheduled to pitch a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, which could be his last effort with the team before making a rehab assignment. … RHP Chris Hatcher (chest inflammation) was activated and catcher Kyle Farmer was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. That left the Dodgers with only three position players on the bench.

UP NEXT

Padres: LHP Travis Wood (2-4, 6.71 ERA) is scheduled to make his fourth start for the Padres when they return home Monday to meet the Phillies. He is 1-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts for San Diego, but 1-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 10 games (six starts) against Philadelphia.

Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (14-1, 2.37) is scheduled to start Tuesday to open a brief two-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox. He has a 1.02 WHIP, tied for ninth among starting pitchers. He has never faced the White Sox.